Banshee Review: Antony Starr’s Sheriff Lie Carries a Divisive Cult Classic

Banshee ran for four seasons on Cinemax from 2013 to 2016, and it remains one of the most divisive shows of its era. The premise is simple: a con man named Lucas Hood, played by Antony Starr, takes over as sheriff of a Pennsylvania town after the real sheriff is killed. What follows is a slow-burn crime drama that leans heavily on violence, deception, and a relentless sense of dread.

The show is built around three main groups: the police force, led by Carrie Pepper (Kurtwood Smith) and Lester Hoyt (Ron Eldard); the criminal underworld, dominated by the Kozlow family and their rivals; and Lucas himself, who pretends to be the dead man while nursing his own dark past. The result is a series that rewards patience but often frustrates viewers with its deliberate pacing and its refusal to answer obvious questions.

The Sheriff’s Lie

The core of Banshee is the lie at its center. Lucas assumes the identity of Avery Burmeister, the sheriff who died, and he keeps up the deception for years. This works for a while, but the show spends a significant amount of time circling around the question of why he won’t just leave. The answer comes late in the series, and it feels less like a revelation than a shrug.

Antony Starr carries the weight of the entire enterprise. His performance is cold, calculating, and occasionally charismatic, but there is a stiffness to it that never fully resolves. The show wants him to be a tragic figure, but the writing keeps pushing him toward more ruthless behavior until the tragedy becomes cartoonish. By the final season, Lucas has become a parody of his own mythology, and the series loses much of its tension.

Carrie Pepper’s Watch

Carrie Pepper is the show’s moral compass, even if she is also a deeply flawed character. She is a cop who has lost her faith in the system, and she works tirelessly to keep her town safe. Kurtwood Smith plays her with a weary intensity that grounds the show’s more absurd moments. Her relationship with Lucas is the emotional core of the series, and their scenes together are the best the show has to offer.

Lester Hoyt, the deputy chief, provides a foil to both characters. He is loyal to a fault, and his unwavering belief in the law creates friction with Carrie’s pragmatic approach. Ron Eldard plays him with a quiet dignity that makes his eventual betrayal feel earned, even if the show telegraphs it far in advance.

The Kozlows and Their Enemies

The criminal side of Banshee is populated by a cast of colorful villains, but few of them stick. The Kozlow family, led by the patriarch Roman Kozlow (Pablo Schreiber), are the primary antagonists for most of the series. They are ruthless, cunning, and occasionally funny, but they lack the depth of the show’s central characters. Their schemes are elaborate, but they rarely feel threatening beyond their immediate scope.

The show’s handling of race is problematic. The Kozlows are often portrayed as foreign criminals, and their accents and mannerisms are exaggerated to the point of caricature. This is not unique to Banshee, but it is a persistent flaw that undermines the show’s attempts at realism. The series also leans on racial stereotypes when it comes to other criminal figures, and this can make the world feel smaller than intended.

A Slow Burn That Catches Fire

The show’s pacing is its biggest weakness. The first two seasons are deliberately slow, with long stretches of dialogue and minimal action. This works in pockets, particularly when the show focuses on character development, but it often feels like filler. The third and fourth seasons pick up significantly, but the momentum is uneven, and the finale leaves many questions unanswered.

Banshee is at its best when it is focused on interpersonal relationships. The scenes between Carrie and Lucas, and between Carrie and Lester, are tense and emotionally honest. The show’s ability to build dread through dialogue and atmosphere is genuinely impressive, and it is why the series has a dedicated following.

Comparing the Seasons

The show’s quality shifts dramatically across its run.

The middle seasons are the strongest, particularly the third, which sees Carrie take over as sheriff and the show shift its focus to her leadership. The final season, however, rushes to a conclusion that feels rushed and unsatisfying. The show’s attempt to tie everything together is admirable, but it fails to deliver the resolution its audience deserves.

Banshee is a show that asks a lot of its viewers. It demands patience, attention, and a willingness to sit with uncomfortable questions about identity and morality. It is not for everyone, and its flaws are significant enough that they will likely keep many away.

The series is available to stream on various platforms, and its cult following continues to grow. For those willing to invest the time, the payoff can be substantial. For those looking for a more straightforward crime drama, it will likely feel like a slog.

Banshee is a mixed bag, and its legacy is likely to remain divisive for years to come. The show has some of the best writing and acting in television history, but it also has some of the worst pacing and plotting. It is a show that rewards dedication, but it also punishes impatience.

The score reflects that contradiction. Banshee is a show worth watching, but it is a show that deserves a better ending.

Antony Starr · Banshee · Cinemax · Streaming · TV Review